Therapy tailored to meet your needs.

Do you find yourself having more bad days than good ones? Something feel not right even if you can't name it? Questioning your sexuality or gender? Have shame about being LGBTQ? Are there times it feels like one more thing in your world will make you snap? Tired of constantly fighting over money and laundry and who fed the dog last? How about lacking general direction in your life and wanting to explore more of who you are and what you want in the world?

These are some problems we all face at one time or another. It is part of the human condition, and no life lived well comes without a few trying times. Therapy tailored for YOUR needs can help you move forward and live your best life.

LGBTQ Affirming Therapy

Gender Affirming Therapy

Coming Out Process

Couples

Counseling

FAQ

Rates / Insurance

LGBTQ Affirming Therapy

Finding a gay-affirming therapist can be surprisingly difficult, even in an area as diverse as the DFW Metroplex. It's difficult to know whether or not you will find a counselor who is knowledgeable and compassionate about sexuality and all the issues that can go with this. As an openly gay therapist, I understand exactly where you are coming from. You need to connect with somebody who “gets it.” You want to be able to talk openly and honestly about your problems to find real solutions.

Self-esteem and self-confidence

Lack of self-acceptance

Problems with family dynamics

Socializing in our community and the straight world

Stress and anxiety

Depression

Self-loathing and self-harm

Common issues related to gay and lesbian sex lives

Gender Affirming Therapy

Transgender. Gender fluid. Bi-gender. Gender diverse. Agender. Gender queer. All kinds of gender expression exist in human nature, and thankfully much of this is being recognized as part of the fabric of our society. Whether you are looking for a therapist to help you understand and accept yourself, come out to others, understand the transition process and options, or just support you as you live your life, I am here to help. The environment I provide is a safe one where we can explore things openly and honestly, with no judgment.

Identifying and accepting your gender identity

Coming out to family, friends, partners, and colleagues

Finding your place in the LGBTQ spectrum

Depression

Fear, anxiety or stress

Self-esteem and self-confidence

Understanding and thinking through transition options

Coming Out Process

Identifying and accepting your sexual orientation

Coming out to friends, family, partners, and colleagues

Coming out at school

Learning what it means to be LBGTQ and finding your place in the community

Handling lack of acceptance

Learning to advocate for yourself to ensure dignity and respect

Coming out can be the most difficulty thing for any LGBTQ individual to face. The fear of being rejected or abandoned can be overwhelming. Knowing that you are “different” and having to find your place in the world can leave you riddled with fear and anxiety. Dread about the consequences and judgments can make it seem like an impossible situation. It doesn’t have to be like that. Together we will explore what is happening in your life and your support network so you can feel confident with your decision.

Couples Counseling

If you're in an LGBTQ relationship, I understand the unique challenges you face in your relationship. Personal struggles can impact how you communicate, share emotions, have sex, and manage a household. Sometimes we lose passion, trust, or romance. Maybe infidelity has caused a rift you want to repair. Finding a therapist who understands these issues is extremely important. Together we can work on rebuilding communication, intimacy,trust and stability in your relationship.

Lacking intimacy and want to reconnect sexually

Overcoming infidelity

Improving communication when it seems like there's nothing left to talk about

Rediscovering love and friendship

Coping with sexual performance concerns or lack of desire

Fighting fair

Domestic abuse

Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen in the first session?

It’s perfectly normal and natural to feel nervous about your first counseling session, or your first session with a new therapist. I understand it takes a lot of courage to share your feelings and experiences with someone you just met. We will work together to identify and understand your concerns and develop a plan to make changes in your life. This process usually takes several sessions. I think of it as the “getting to know each other” stage of our new relationship. It’s a time for you to decide if I am the right fit, and for me to determine if I might be able to help you. This is a collaborative process, but ultimately you are in the driver’s seat.

Is this confidential?

Under Texas law, our conversations are confidential except under certain circumstances. We will discuss this at the outset of therapy, and I will make sure you understand the details of these exceptions in the first session before you begin counseling. It is often helpful to discuss your case with other professionals, and I may ask for your permission to do this.

How long will we be talking? How often?

Typically, a counseling session lasts 50 minutes. There may be exceptions to this, and we will make adjustments to meet your needs. We will decide together how often to meet. Usually, it’s best to meet weekly in the early stages. I like to transition my clients to biweekly and then monthly sessions as our work progresses.

How many sessions will I need?

The therapy process can range from one or two sessions to several months or longer, depending on the nature of the issues we are working to resolve. I do not set a minimum or maximum number of sessions and prefer to remain flexible based on your needs. You are the expert on you, and I believe you will know during the course of therapy when your issues are resolved or not. We will continually review your treatment goals and assess your progress to determine whether or not counseling should continue.

How will I know if we are a good fit?

I recommend that we give it at least two sessions to see if we mesh and if we both feel I can help you. The first session is often focused on informed consents and other paperwork, and an initial understanding of what is happening in your life. From the second session onward we delve deeper into “the issues” and this is when we best know if we can work together. This is a collaborative process and we both need to feel comfortable proceeding. If not, I will be happy to discuss referral options to someone with whom you might feel more comfortable.

Does it really matter if my therapist is gay 0r gay-affirming?

Whether or not your therapist is gay or lesbian, if you are an LGBTQ individual seeking services it is extremely important to find a counselor who understands the issues you are facing. There are many "gay friendly" therapists who provide excellent care to LGBTQ clients. And some clients prefer to have a counselor who is themselves an actual member of the community. This is a deeply personal decision, and ultimately it is based on your level of comfort.

What are WPATH Standards of Care?

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health has established internationally accepted Standards of Care (SOC) for the treatment of gender identity disorders and gender-related concerns. The overall goal of the SOC is to provide clinical guidance to assist transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming clients with safe and effective pathways to achieve lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves, in order to maximize their overall health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment. I strongly believe in WPATH, the SOC, and their ethical guidelines.

How do I get a letter for hormones or surgery?

I absolutely hate what I call "toxic gatekeeping." I have no idea what "trans enough" looks like. None of my specialized training nor my fancy office decor came with a yardstick by which to measure someone's lived experience to declare them "trans enough" to move forward with their transition. It is unfortunate that so many medical providers require letters for hormones. There are many informed-choice options available (Parkland Transgender Health Clinic, Planned Parenthood, Resource Center Dallas, AIDS Outreach Center (AOC), and number private clinics. I am more than happy to pass along those resources so you can avoid unnecessary treatment. When I do need to do an assessment for hormones or surgery, it can be done in one session. You may need to check with the surgeon to make sure an assessment is acceptable.

What about reparative therapy?

If you're considering coming out and/or accepting for yourself that you are LGBTQ, you likely have come across information regarding conversation or reparative therapy. This type of treatment, and I use that word loosely, continues to exist in the Metroplex. This is despite multiple lawsuits, claims of harm, and lack of success. This so-called treatment is based on research that is largely invalid. In fact, recent research shows that reparative therapy is extremely harmful and traumatic. If you are looking for a conversion or reparative therapist, I would strongly encourage you to at least meet with an LGBTQ-affirming therapist first so you can explore the benefits of living an authentic life and make an informed decision.

Do you prescribe medications?

No, medications are prescribed by medical doctors. I will help you monitor your medications to determine how well they are working. With your permission, I will work close with your prescribing doctor to coordinate our treatment plans. As a best practice, medications for mental health reasons (“psychotropics”) are best prescribed by psychiatrists, as they have specialized and advanced training in medications that alter brain chemistry. In many cases, medications are also prescribed by general physicians, internists, and nurse practitioners. Regardless of who writes your script, I can work with you to coordinate treatment and monitor symptoms for maximum efficacy.

Can we do this over the phone? Skype?

In this digital age of too many commitments and not enough time, providing alternatives to in-person therapy can be crucial in delivering services. I am more than willing to discuss this on a case-by-case basis.

Rates & Insurance

Psychotherapy

My rate for counseling is $150 per 50-minute session.

I do not have a sliding scale or reduced-fee payment structure. I realize that therapy is not inexpensive and sometimes money is a barrier to getting the help you need. I frequently have interns available for therapy services and that rate starts at $50 per 50-minute session.

Assessment

All assessment services are billed at $200 per hour for all work (testing, interview, report writing, feedback, etc.). There is no set fee for a specific assessment, as each evaluation is tailored to your needs.

Forensic Services

All forensic services are bill at $200 per hour. All forensic services are retained by the Court or an attorney. I do not accept forensic work directly from named parties in a legal matter. A retainer is required to secure my time, and services are billed against the retainer.

Insurance

I am not contracted with any insurance panel. My services may qualify for out-of-network reimbursement, and I am happy to provide a detailed receipt you can submit to your managed care provider to request reimbursement of your expenses. I do not verify any out-of-network benefits or coverage. There are many factors that determine if a managed care company will reimburse you for your expenses and this can vary from plan to plan even within a larger company. You will need to speak to an ombudsman or customer service agent to see if this is an option with your coverage.

Forensic services are never eligible for in-network coverage or out-of-network reimbursement.

My office is conveniently located in a professional building just northeast of downtown Fort Worth. A mere three miles from Sundance Square and other downtown attractions and businesses, with easy access to several interstates and highways. Quiet and comfortable, ideally suited to the exploration of life and creative problem solving.

A little about Wes...

“None of us gets through life without some serious hurt, and some serious joy. The ways we respond to challenges or capitalize on opportunities is based on myriad experiences and encounters throughout our lives. I believe that whatever leads us to this moment, we always have an opportunity for personal growth and improvement. Through a careful exploration of our individual histories and valid world-views, we can better understand ourselves and how to make the most of our lives to be happy, healthy and productive.”

Before committing to any course of therapy or assessment, I think it’s helpful to understand a little bit about me...

Because there is no way I'd see a therapist until I understood who they were as a person.

My Interest in Therapy

My Interest in Life

I have always been drawn to an understanding of others’ behaviors. Or, more to the point, I have always been curious about why people do the things they do, even when they are unhealthy, ill-advised, or otherwise counter intuitive. That was my initial interest in psychology, fostered by observations on the playground, in church, at parties, in the workplace…anywhere people gather, behaviors happen that left me trying to understand what I was witnessing, making sense of the “why.” Once the why becomes clear, making the transition from maladaptive to healthy, prosocial functioning completes the cycle I find so interesting.

LGBTQ Experience

I did not start out with a large gay clientele. I was focused on general clinical issues and a few LGBTQ clients found me. Then a few more, and a few more after that. It did not take long for me to see this as a professional calling of sorts. Before I knew it I was developing a rewarding niche practice. Since then, I have worked with diverse issues affecting our community that include navigating the coming out process, sexual orientation identity, understanding what it means to be transgender or gender diverse, navigating the gender transition process, relationship struggles, family issues, sexual concerns, mood issues, anxiety problems, and stress management. Understanding that LGBTQ clients frequently struggle to incorporate their identities into the mainstream culture, identity exploration and formation has become a large part of my work.

As a person, I have lots of interests outside of my professional identity. I am a bit of an artist. I am an avid reader of all genres of literature. I enjoy great meals with friends, running, movies, hiking, my cats, family outings, dancing with friends until we look utterly silly, watching live sports, playing ball in the local LGBTQ softball league, politics, social justice, philanthropy….and the list goes on and on!

Training & Licensure

Licensed Professional Counselor

Licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.

National Certified Counselor

Certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors

Master of Science

Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Neuropsychology

University of Texas at Tyler

Bachelor of Arts

Psychology

University of Texas at Dallas

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."

-- William James

"We know what we are but not what we may be."

-- Ophelia,

in Hamlet

"I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 things that do not work."

-- Thomas Edison

"I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have."

-- Abraham Lincoln

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

-- Martin Luther King , Jr.

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."

-- Carl Jung

"Don't let yourself go

'Cause everybody cries

And everybody hurts sometimes"

-- R.E.M.,

"Everybody Hurts"

"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off."

-- Gloria Steinem

"Time is the best author. It always writes the perfect ending. "

-- Calvero,

in Limelight

"Minds are like parachutes - they only function when open."

-- Thomas Dewar

"Comedy is tragedy plus time."

-- Carol Burnett

"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile."

-- Roger Staubach

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

-- Dalai Lama

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

-- Dr. Seuss

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Contact.

About Wes.

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LGBTQ-affirming therapy to help you live your best life.

You deserve all the happiness this world has to offer. Let's find it together.